Live: Ramdev, supporters to spend night at Ambedkar stadium

8. 40 pm: Ramdev and his followers will not be evicted from the stadium tonight. Delhi police says,  “attempts will be made to move Baba Ramdev out of the stadium tomorrow.” Meanwhile, Baba’s supporters try to arrange for basic amenities like food, water and electricity for the night. 8 pm: Addressing the crowd gathered at the Ambedkar stadium, Baba Ramdev said that they will not leave the ’temporary jail’ tonight. He demanded that the government must provide food and water to his supporters. “Government feeds terrorists, why can’t it feed my supporters?” he said. The yoga guru also demanded electricity, toilet and other necessary facilities for his supporters at the Ambedkar stadium. Ramdev also said, “The government does not love its people and a government that doesn’t love its people has no right to rule.” 7. 33 pm: As Delhi police announces release of Baba Ramdev and his supporters, Ramdev remains adamant and refuses to leave the Ambedkar stadium. Ramdev also announces that he will not break his fast today. His supporters shout slogans at the Ambedkar stadium, “Jail ki roti khaenge, desh ko bachaenge.” 7. 07 pm: CNN-IBN reports that Baba Ramdev will break his fast at the Ambedkar stadium. Ramdev has been fasting for the last five days to protest against black money. Ramdev says he will end his fat after all his supporters eat food. On Sunday, Ramdev was supposed to end his fast. However, the agitation took a dramatic turn as he adopted a more aggressive tone, refusing to end his fast even as Kiran Bedi and VK Singh joined him. Police say while Baba’s  supporters may be released soon, he will be detained till further orders, reports NDTV. 6: 45 pm:  Ramdev is now inside the stadium, along with his thousands of supporters. Reports  says over 7000 supporters of Ramdev will be accommodated at the Ambedkar Stadium tonight. As police struggles to manage the crowd at the Ambedkar stadium, Kiran Bedi tweeted that the Ramdev movement should have been resolved politically and not become a issue of ‘crowd management’. https://twitter.com/thekiranbedi/status/235005066640228352 6: 10 pm: Baba Ramdev, along with his supporters arrive at Ambedkar Stadium near ITO. The stadium has been converted into a makeshift jail. Ramdev, finally, alights from the bus and walks into the stadium. 6 pm: Baba Ramdev, in an interview to Times Now, says, “I appeal to all people to try and go to jail for 1 day.” Ramdev and his supporters have forced the police to stop the bus at ITO in Delhi, resulting in massive traffic jams in the area. Traffic jams have also been reported from Daryaganj and Vikas Marg. TV reports say Baba Ramdev and his supporters are being taken to the Ambedkar Stadium and not the stadium at Bawana. The Delhi police changed their plan after Ramdev refused to be taken to the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Bawana. 5. 30 pm: As Baba Ramdev’s bus reaches Firozshah Kotla Stadium, he refuses to alight from the DTC bus.  Baba demands that all his 10,000 supporters be detained along with him. Meanwhile, supporters gather around the bus, not letting the bus move even an inch. https://twitter.com/abpnewstv/status/234987757527781376 5.20 pm:  Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama backing Ramdev’s movement, said corruption is a kind of violence and yoga guru Ramdev’s movement is helpful in reminding people and leaders of the country that something should be done to weed it out. “I have always been clear, corruption is one kind of violence, exploiting others rights in money field,” the Dalai Lama told reporters in Jammu. The spiritual leader said, “I think like this (Baba Ramdev) kind of movement is helpful to remind people and also leaders that something should be done (to weed out corruption).” 4. 45 pm: The first batch of detained protestors arrive at Bawana Rajiv Gandhi stadium. However, Ramdev will take another 2-3 hours to reach the stadium, where a makeshift jail has been made. 4. 40pm: BSP supremo Mayawati, whose party is providing outside support to UPA, today pressed the government to take steps to bring back black money into the country. Asked if BSP would support Ramdev‘s agitation which was backed by NDA leaders, she said, “I don’t have to say anything about anybody’s platform… There should be some middle path through which the money away stashed in foreign banks can be brought back.” “It is the Centre’s responsibility to take along all parties and try to find a way to bring back black money and if this money comes back to India, people living below poverty line will be able to lead a decent life,” she said. 3. 35pm: It’s been more than 2 hours that Ramdev has courted arrest, but the police has not been able to take him and his supporters to Rajiv Gandhi stadium yet.  The bus in which Ramdev is being taken has moved only 2 kms in 2 hours. Baba’s supporters have climbed on the bus carrying the yoga guru, and are not allowing the bus to move further. 2.50pm: Reports claim that Ramdev has not been arrested, he will be taken to Bawana and left there. https://twitter.com/htTweets/status/234943077264019456 2. 40pm: Ramdev, while being taken away by the police, claims that Congress is ‘very afraid’ of them. He, along with his followers, are now being taken to Bawana stadium as supporters protest on the road, not allowing the buses to move. Meanwhile, Congress leader Janardhan Dwivedi lashing out at Ramdev says, “Baba Ramadev’s mask off; he has made his political ambitions clear.” 2. 20 pm: Baba Ramdev hangs outside the window of a police bus, which is not moving thanks to the thousands that have surrounded it. Ramdev tells the media  that even though he has courted arrest, he wants the movement to continue. Meanwhile, backing  Ramdev’s movement against black money, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav says, “Whoever is trying to get black money into India, we will support them.” Ramdev had earlier claimed that he had the support of Mulayam Singh, besides  Nitin Gadkari and Sharad Yadav’s support. 1.55 pm: Baba Ramdev has been arrested by the Delhi police. He, along with his supporters who have courted arrest, will now be taken to Bawana Rajiv Gandhi stadium, where a temporary jail has been built. Ramdev has been detained for violating  Section- 144 of the Indian penal code. Violation of section- 144 includes “joining unlawful assembly armed with deadly weapon.” Delhi police is having a hard time taking so many people to Bawana. There are 20 buses moving towards Bahuna, carrying 300-400 people who have courted arrest. 1.50 pm: Baba’s supporters are seen climbing onto police vehicles, as  police make announcements, warning Baba’s supporters that they could be detained. Baba Ramdev addresses supporters, saying that they will obey the law, but will not go back. “We have no intention to spread violence, the police has stopped us right now, we will follow the law,” he said. Ramdev is likely to court arrest. 1.30 pm: Baba Ramdev and his supporters have been stopped by the Delhi police at the entry point of Ranjit Singh flyover. Some of the supporters have already courted arrest, and they will now be taken to Bawana Rajiv Gandhi stadium. Meanwhile, some of Baba’s supporters blow conch shells, shout slogans and sing songs as a sign of protest. Will Baba Ramdev also court arrest? In case you missed it, here’s what happened this morning at the Ramlila Maidan: Click here to Watch Video Click here to Watch Video   1.20 pm: While supporters walk, Ramdev is on top of a car as the cavalcade starts moving towards Parliament. Ramdev and his supporters will be allowed to march a small distance, however, they might be arrested at Ranjit  Singh flyover as they do not have the permission for the procession. Delhi police has set up a temporary jail at the Rajiv Gandhi stadium. 1.15 pm: Ramdev begins his march to Parliament, accompanied by thousands of supporters carrying the Indian flag. Asking supporters at Ramlila Maidan here to be prepared for the next phase of their agitation against black money and corruption, he said: “We will march towards parliament peacefully. We respect parliament and good parliamentarians. We don’t want a single corrupt leader elected to parliament next time. So, don’t stop us, we just want to be heard.” He asked supporters to be “non-violent and peaceful”. Recalling the 2011 agitation at the same venue, he said: “We expect that Delhi Police too will not take the law in its own hands like it did last time.” The yoga guru had staged a similar protest at the same venue in June 2011. But a midnight crackdown by Delhi Police ended in bedlam, leaving a woman dead. Ramdev was then forced to leave Delhi. 1:00 pm: Ramdev tells his followers to remain silent as they march towards Parliament. The police have their water cannons, barricades and shields ready. This promises to be a dramatic end to the yoga guru’s protest rally. The yoga guru is expected to lead the protest atop a open vehicle and he also urged the police to join his rally. “You are also servants of the nation,” he said. 12:50 pm: Before setting off on his protest march to Parliament, Ramdev exhorts his supporters multiple times not to indulge in violence. “Please express your anger in a peaceful manner. Please do not voluntarily get into the police vehicles,” he said. “Anyone who indulges in violence is not from our movement,” he said. He also alleged that the government had stopped thousands of his supporters outside the borders of the city. The supporters will apparently have black bands over the mouths and heads. Not very clear how they plan to shout and make their voices heard in that case but maybe its already been figured out. Ramdev said he had also made provisions for who will handle the protest at Ramlila Maidan after he left. 12:45 pm: Ramdev says they will leave the Ramlila Maidan at 1 pm for Parliament and he will lead the agitation along with young volunteers. The yoga guru also listed a set of political parties and political leaders who are backing their agitation. He also put on a head band and seems ready for the walk (which may not get too far) to Parliament. He also thanked Samajwadi Party’s Mulayam Singh for his support to the campaign against black money. The yoga guru also said that the youth volunteers would lead the agitation. “Please remember that we should not break the law in any way,” he said. 12:25 pm: The BJP president ends his speech promising to support the yoga guru’s agenda through thick and thin until the government met all his demands. “On behalf of the BJP, I promise that we will provide all possible support to the movement that has been started by Baba Ramdev,” said Gadkari. I feel sad that the government is using the CBI to threaten Ramdev and his aides, he said. “We have raised the issue of black money in Parliament and stopped its functioning over the issue,” he said. The BJP leader said he had spoken with the leaders of Opposition in both houses of Parliament due to which the issue of black money and corruption had been taken up in Parliament. Due to their vociferous demands for the government to accede to their demands Parliament had to be adjourned, he said. 12:20 pm: Gadkari criticises the government for the manner in which it has handled the economic progress of the country and accuses them of misusing the CBI, including against Baba Ramdev,  to achieve its political ends. He also appealed for all political parties to support the movement and said that the yoga guru would not participate in politics. “This is not a political rally. We should all look beyond our political interests to support this movement,” he said. The agitation started by Baba Ramdev will help bring progress to the nation and should not be viewed politically. Ramdev will not support the political agenda of the BJP or any other party , Gadkari said. 12:10 pm: Nitin Gadkari takes to the stage and begins by thanking everyone present there for their support and then launches into an attack on the UPA government. “Two days from now we are celebrating our Independence day but we can only truly celebrate it when we get rid of corruption, fear and terrorism,” he said. “Ramdev is not fighting the battle for any political ends but for the benefit of the country,” he said. It is not a crime to say that black money should be brought back to the country, the BJP President said. “What Ramdev says is absolutely true,” Gadkari said, adding that the money kept illegally in international bank accounts can bring about a lot of progress in the country. He also criticised the UPA government and political parties for preventing the disclosure of those who had illegal bank accounts outside the country. 12:00 pm: Sharad Yadav ends his speech and said that all politicaians are not corrupt and many of them have worked honestly for the benefit of the country. He also praised the yoga guru for his agitation against black money and corruption and wished them all the best in their agitation. However, he’s lost the crowd, which has begun singing random songs in the background. 11:50 am: Sharad Yadav of the JD(U) takes over and speaks on things ranging from political support to history. He also gets into sports and criticising the constant broadcast of cricket games says that cricket is a game played by slaves and a result of our colonial past. Guess he won’t be watching the upcoming series. “However, the victories at Olympics are true victories because they have been achieved by farmers’ sons,” he said. He also criticised the UPA saying that they didn’t speak the language of the people. “Chidambaram doesn’t know the national language and he only speaks English,” he said, adding that only Ramdev spoke the language of the people. He also said that only English speaking people get jobs and those learning regional languages don’t have equal opportunities. Somehow he seems to have digressed from the original topic of black money and corruption. 11:30 am : BJP President Nitin Gadkari and NDA convenor Sharad Yadav reach the Ramlila Maidan and are expected to address the crowds at the ground. However, despite the fact that only the political leaders from the NDA seem to be turning up at the protest venue, Janata Party’s Subramaniam Swamy says the agitation is not being propelled by the NDA. “Baba Ramdev has not excluded Congress from his statement. I would like all parties to come and join with Baba Ramdev. It is not an NDA front. I would like it to be an NDA force but it isn’t presently,” Swamy said. Swamy says it helps that the yoga guru wears saffron robes because it inspires trust in the people. However, despite the yoga guru claiming that he had approached NCP’s Sharad Pawar for his support, it doesn’t seem likely that anyone from the UPA present and it seems to be an all out NDA affair so far. 11:20 am: While the yoga guru shows no signs of backing down from his protest march to Parliament, former police officer and anti-corruption activist Kiran Bedi has pointed out that the police will have little choice but to arrest him, irrespective of his cause. https://twitter.com/thekiranbedi/status/234888713237303296 Baba Ramdev’s supporter VP Vaidik says that they had always decided on the march to Parliament if the government did not respond to their demands. “Nobody has been talking to us. It is not a question of one-upmanship,” he said. According to Vaidik, they are taking the movement to the people by protesting outside Parliament. 11:10 am : BJP President Nitin Gadkari is very likely to march with the yoga guru to Parliament and is presently enroute to Ramlila Maidan to meet with him. Guess that means that they won’t be marching to Parliament any time soon. Meanwhile, the yoga guru, while waiting for Gadkari’s arrival, said he has support across political parties and it is not just the NDA that is supporting his agitation. “We called leaders from all parties, not just the NDA,” he said. According to the yoga guru, he had spoken to NCP leader Sharad Pawar and if it weren’t for the compulsions of coalition politics the veteran leader might have joined the agiation too. “After three days of giving them chances, the Congress has not responded. So we will support only those who will listen to us,” he said. The yoga guru also said that he held no ill will against anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare for not joining his protest rally. 11: 00 am: Subramaniam Swamy’s still going strong at Ramlila Maidan. He’s compared Ramdev’s escape from the Ramlila Maidan in a salwar kameez last year to Shivaji’s escape from Aurangzeb’s clutches. Not really sure that the yoga guru would appreciate the comparison but he’s not complaining about being compared with the Maratha king either. https://twitter.com/ShivAroor/status/234883656311775232 10:40 am: Security forces continue to gather and prepare outside Parliament Street in large numbers. Meanwhile, Janata Party’s Subramaniam Swamy plays to the gallery at Ramlila Maidan. “The government is caught in a quandry. If it listens to Ramdev, then it will have to bring back the black money from abroad,” he said. Reports also state that BJP President Nitin Gadkari and Janata Dal’s Sharad Yadav are on their way to Ramlila Maidan. Perhaps they should be waiting outside Parliament instead. https://twitter.com/IBNLiveRealtime/status/234881713266896897 10:30 am: The yoga guru has said that he will send his activists across the country to ensure that corrupt politicians do not come back to power. However, he still is adamant on walking to Parliament. “We are not going to attack Parliament, we should be allowed to go there,” Ramdev said. “We are not going to fight with the police. We believe in non-violence and peace,” the yoga guru said. Ramdev said that he was hopeful that the police would not attack the protesting crowd as they marched towards the Ramlila Maidan. “We hope they will not take matters into their own hands,” he said. The yoga guru said there was a probability that political parties could send anti-social elements to disrupt the rally and indulge in violence but none of his followers would do any such thing. “The police should take strong action against any people who indulge in violence,”  Ramdev said. 10:15 am: The yoga guru also says that  the protest at Ramlila Maidan will spark a movement to ensure that corrupt political leaders don’t make it to Parliament in the next elections. However, his target is the UPA government and the Congress party. “Congress is a sinking ship, other parties of UPA should move away from Congress,” he said. It will be ensured that the Congress party will not come to power in the next elections and the yoga guru says he will decide on whether political parties are to be supported depending on their stance on black money and corruption. The yoga guru denied allegations of corruption and says the money for the protest at Ramlila came from willing donors and thanked them for their funds. 10:00 am: The yoga guru declares that the hundreds present at the Ramlila Maidan will march to Parliament in order to take their voices to the government which has failed to take action over their demands. “After some time we will go outside Parliament to protest from where the government should be able to hear our voices,” he said, adding that they would not block Parliament or affect its functioning. However, the police are taking no chances and are keeping a large number of staff on standby for the hundreds who are expected to leave for Parliament. The protestors, incidentally, have no permission to go to Parliament. 9:15 am : After his attempts to negotiate with the UPA government came to nought, yoga guru Baba Ramdev has threatened to take his protests to the streets and launch a ‘jail bharo’ protest in Delhi today. After his three day hunger strike at the Ramlila Maidan failed to yield any result, Ramdev today told the hundreds of supporters present at the venue to pack their bags and get ready to voluntarily court arrest in order to protest against the government’s inaction over curbing corruption and bringing back wealth illegally stashed in international bank accounts. The yoga guru told his supporters that he will make his next announcement at 10 am. [caption id=“attachment_415676” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Will the yoga guru’s campaign work. PTI[/caption] The government has not responded to the threat yet,  but police have been placed on high alert in the national capital. Ramdev yesterday had blamed the Congress and a ‘dynasty’ for India’s black money woes and corruption. In a show of strength while addressing a rally of thousands at the Ramlila grounds in New Delhi, the yoga guru said that the country’s 121-crore population would soon vote the Congress out of power. “Why is the Congress hesitating to declare black money as a national asset? Does black money belong to the Congress and because of that is it reluctant to bring back black money? Congress has proved by its behaviour that it is linked with the black money. It is not willing because it is possible that the money is related with the party leaders and with the (Gandhi) dynasty,” Ramdev said. “Everyone is honest except a few people. Despite the government’s opposition, lakhs of people are at the Ramlila grounds. This number will be phenomenal when the agitation sweeps whole of India,” he said. In another seeming reference to the Gandhi family, Ramdev said, “When the prime minister is okay with our demands who is calling our demands illegal? India does not belong to a particular party or to a dynasty. We are not going to keep quiet after shouting at Ramlila grounds. We are here to pull the weeds out.” The yoga guru also pointed to the Rs 20 lakh crore black money, which was allegedly invested in Indian markets, through FDI via the Mauritius route. Ramdev also said that different political parties are joining his agitation but not before making it clear that his fight is “social not political”. “Representatives from the BJD and TDP are already here. Tomorrow many more will join. Even UPA allies want to join but they fear the diktat of the dynasty,” he said. The Yoga-guru also confronted the government on the selection process of the chiefs of bodies like CBI, Lokpal, CVC, EC and CBI.